Product description

'I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep. My name is Kvothe. You may have heard of me' So begins the tale of Kvothe - currently known as Kote, the unassuming innkeepter - from his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, through his years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime-riddled city, to his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a difficult and dangerous school of magic. In these pages you will come to know Kvothe the notorious magician, the accomplished thief, the masterful musician, the dragon-slayer, the legend-hunter, the lover, the thief and the infamous assassin. The Name of the Wind is fantasy at its very best, and an astounding must-read title.

Author information

Patrick Rothfuss had the good fortune to be born in Wisconsin in 1973, where the long winters and lack of cable television encouraged a love of reading and writing. After abandoning his chosen field of chemical engineering, Pat became an itinerant student, wandering through clinical psychology, philosophy, medieval history, theater, and sociology. Nine years later, Pat was forced by university policy to finally complete his undergraduate degree in English. When not reading and writing, he teaches fencing and dabbles with alchemy in his basement. Patrick Rothfuss is an award-winning as well as Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author. You can learn more about him and his work at www.patrickrothfuss.com, or by following @PatrickRothfuss on twitter.

Customer reviews

It was one of the best books I have ever read. Captivating and absolutely mind-blowing. The characters are very real, especially that of the protagonist. His development through his character as a person from when he was part of the Edema Ruh to his life on the streets of Tarbean to his life at the University makes his character very authentic. It is as if you were plunged straight into this mysterious and fantasy world with him and were on a journey together. That is what it feels like.

A great book with a great story. From the characters to the environments everything is connected in a way that makes perfect sense. The social satire, the exposition of society's flaws and the way the author explains this universe's "magic" as if it were science help create a truly immersive world full of misteries but where everything can be explained and comprehended in detail. A fan of fantasy tales will laugh with this story's jokes and cry in the moments of sadness but will never feel bored. I loved it and recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good story.

I'm not exaggerating when I say that this is literally the worst book I have ever read in my life. The characters are shallow and unlikeable and the story is extremely dull, it was an effort to keep reading because I just had no desire whatsoever to find out what happens to these characters.
Obviously some people absolutely love it, but if you prefer books with realistic main characters who have actual flaws (being cocky does not count, even though it is a horrible trait) rather than "Mary Sues", then this isn't the book for you.

I absolutely love this book. It manages to combine originality with credibility, and for me it's turned a magical world into something I could almost believe is a real legend. Superb storytelling!

Review quote

Patrick Rothfuss' debut is set in an unnamed but fully realised fantasy world, and his characters are detailed and convincing. WATERSTONES BOOKS QUARTERLY "Patrick Rothfuss' debut is set in an unnamed but fully realised fantasy world, and his characters are detailed and convincing." WATERSTONE'S BOOKS QUARTERLY